NINTH GRADE: YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL – Your focus in the first year of High School:

  • YOU: Family, friends, food, faith, social and entertainment (fun)
    • Set priorities: school, sports, arts, social, family, community, other. These are the things that will fight for your time so you should decide which are most important and allocate your time accordingly.
    • Think about college as an important part of your future. Discuss your thoughts and ideas with your family and with people at school.
  • SCHOOL: School, classes, grades, tests and exams, papers, awards
    • Take challenging and interesting classes to prepare for high school.
    • Talk to your school counselor or teachers about Advanced Placement courses. Find out what courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.
    • Ask your parent or guardian to help you research which high schools or special programs will most benefit your interests.
    • Build strong study habits.
    • Do your best in school and on standardized tests. If you are having difficulty, don’t give up—get help from a teacher, tutor, or mentor.
    • Review your classes and subjects; determine of your interests and skills have changed.
    • Make a list of your awards, honors, extracurricular activities, and paid and volunteer work. Consider participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science.
  • SPORTS: Fitness, sports, teams, awards, scholarships
    • Exercise
    • Try out for teams. Play hard. Be fearless when you play. Trust your instincts.
    • But keep in mind that only .01% of all athletes and entertainers become professionals. Always have a back-up plan.
  • SERVICE & COMMUNITY
    • Become involved in school or community-based activities that let you explore your interests and learn new things.
  • COLLEGE PREP
    • Speak with adults, such as your teacher, school counselor or librarian, relatives, or family friends, who you think have interesting jobs. Ask them what they like about their job and what education they needed for it.
    • Find out why you should prepare for college now at StudentAid.gov/prepare
    • Browse My Future, My Way: First Steps Toward College, a workbook for middle and junior high school students at StudentAid.gov/resources #my-future.
    • Visit StudentAid.gov/whycollege for a quick rundown on why deciding to attend college is a no-brainer.
    • Find ways to get help preparing for college at StudentAid.gov/prepare-for-college/help

PLAN

  • Create a plan based on the information you have collected.

  • Share that plan with an adult you trust.

  • If that plan calls for college or any kind of post-secondary degree (60% of all jobs will) find schools that can provide you with that education. Pick nine colleges that you’d like to attend:
    • 3 – Realistic schools
    • 3 – Stretch schools
    • 3 – Dream schools

  • Go to Common Data Set – http://www.commondataset.org/ to see check the standards of the schools you selected.

    Every school has a “common data set” that you can find by typing in URL followed by the/nameofschool. This is a standardized format that provides 25th – 75th percentile ACT/SAT scores, GPA required courses and if Merit Scholarships are offered (critical issue). The information provides the standards for attendance and scholarship and student must fall in the upper 25% and the school needs to offer scholarships to at least 35% of students. If applicant is in lower 50% of their admitted class they most likely will not qualify to receive a Merit Scholarship.